Day #3

ECE 542
Fall 2013
The limit as n goes to infinity of sin (x) /n is 6.
Proof: cancel the n in the numerator and denominator.
Q: Why couldn't the moebius strip enroll at the school?
A: They required an orientation.
Effective Mass
2 2
2
*
dk E d
m

1. What is hbar?
2. Does a higher curvature provide a larger, or smaller mass?
3. Can the effective mass be greater than the free mass?
4. Can the effective mass be smaller than the free mass?
Graphene
Image from: http://www.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/Archive/ALS-graphene.html
Electrons
Electron concentration in conduction band
I.e., just electron concentration
Represented by letter n
What are the units for n?
Why dont we just use an absolute number of
electrons?
Holes
Hole concentration in valence band
I.e., just hole concentration
Represented by letter p
What are the units for p?
Why dont we just use an absolute number of
holes?
Intrinsic semiconductor
Intrinsic is a fancy name for a pure
semiconductor
No dopants
No impurities
If the semiconductor is intrinsic, what can we
say about the relation between the
concentration of holes and electrons?
Generation and Recombination
Can electrons be created?
Can holes be created?
They are created in pairs (electron hole pairs,
or EHPs) in intrinsic semiconductors.
They recombine in pairs in intrinsic
semiconductors.
Generation rate: g
Recombination rate: r
Generation and Recombination
Generation rate: g
Recombination rate: r
Units?
Steady state: no change in n or p over time.
Relation between g and r?
What can cause generation or recombination?
Dopants
Image from: http://www.ptable.com/
Dopants
Energy Levels
Donor energy level
Acceptor energy level
Possible Quiz Questions
What is the value of the Fermi-Dirac equation
f(E), at E=E
F
?
Draw the Fermi-Dirac equation on a graph of f(E)
versus T.
What symbol represents the equilibrium hole
concentration in the valence band?
What symbol represents the equilibrium electron
concentration in the conduction band?
For an undoped semiconductor,

0
=
0
= ________________ (what symbol)